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5 stories · Edition of 2026-07-19 · Curated by AI at Invalid Date

SCIENCE

Space Force Triples Launch Contract Ceiling to $17 Billion amid Rising Demand

39d ago · Source: SpaceNews

The U.S. Space Force raised the ceiling of its National Security Space Launch Phase 3 Lane 1 contract to $17 billion, up from $5.6 billion, to support a projected rise in satellite launch missions through fiscal 2029.

The contract is a multiple‑award indefinite‑delivery, indefinite‑quantity vehicle that allows the service to issue task orders to seven approved launch providers for missions that do not require full certification. The expanded ceiling permits cumulative spending up to the new limit across all task orders.

The seven vendors are SpaceX, United Launch Alliance, Blue Origin, Rocket Lab, Stoke Space, Impulse Space and Relativity Space. The increase follows a separate assessment that identified 25 additional Phase 3 Lane 2 missions beyond the original 54 launches planned over five years. Together, the higher Lane 1 ceiling and the additional Lane 2 missions indicate a significant upward revision of the Space Force’s projected launch requirements since the Phase 3 acquisition strategy was established in 2024.

The revised contract terms are intended to broaden competition for national security launches and to accommodate the growing number of scheduled missions.

SCIENCE

ESA Publishes Week‑in‑Images Gallery July 13‑17, 2026

39d ago · Source: ESA

ESA released a week‑in‑images gallery covering July 13‑17, 2026. The collection presents a snapshot of recent activities from ESA’s Earth observation, space science and exploration programmes. Images include atmospheric data from the Sentinel‑5P satellite, a solar flare recorded by Solar Orbiter, a fine‑guidance test of the James Webb Space Telescope, and a radar view of the Moon’s surface. The gallery is available on the ESA website for public viewing.

SCIENCE

Skyroot Aerospace’s Vikram-1 Rocket Reaches Orbit on First Flight

Skyroot Aerospace’s Vikram-1 rocket successfully lifted off on July 18 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in India, reaching orbit on its inaugural flight.

39d ago · Source: SpaceNews · 1 min read

Skyroot Aerospace’s Vikram-1 rocket successfully lifted off on July 18 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in India, reaching orbit on its inaugural flight.

The launch was delayed 35 minutes due to a technical issue identified at the T‑minus 5‑minute mark, but the three solid‑fuel stages performed as expected after liftoff. The vehicle deployed a liquid‑propellant kick stage and an orbit adjustment module that fired for about six minutes, and the upper stage attained a planned altitude of 450 kilometers in low Earth orbit approximately 15 minutes after launch.

The rocket carried two cubesats, one built by Skyroot and another by the Indian startup Grahaa Space, as well as hosted payloads from Dcubed and Cosmoserve Space. In a prelaunch statement, co‑founder and CEO Pawan Kumar Chandna said the company had completed extensive ground testing and was eager to assess the rocket’s performance in flight. After achieving orbit, Chandna said the flight was “absolutely no words” and noted that the successful first attempt was unprecedented for a private Indian launch vehicle.

Vikram-1 is designed to place up to 350 kilograms into low Earth orbit, with an upgraded Vikram‑1U version planned to increase payload capacity to 550 kilograms. Skyroot has secured $60 million to scale production of the Vikram‑1 and to develop the larger Vikram‑2 vehicle. The company has indicated it may conduct up to two additional Vikram‑1 test flights this year.

The successful flight represents a milestone for India’s commercial space sector, which has benefited from government reforms that facilitate private use of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre and support from the Indian Space Research Organisation and the commercial promotion agency IN‑SPACe. Skyroot plans further test flights before pursuing commercial operations.

SCIENCE

Mauritius Becomes 70th Nation to Sign Artemis Accords

39d ago · Source: SpaceNews

Mauritius signed the Artemis Accords on July 17, becoming the 70th country to do so. The ceremony took place in the city of Ébène, where Navindsing Jugmohunsing, Mauritius' Minister of Tertiary Education, Science and Research, signed the agreement. Representatives of the U.S. State Department and NASA Deputy Administrator Matt Anderson attended, with Anderson speaking by video link.

The Artemis Accords, launched by NASA and the State Department in 2020, establish best practices for space exploration, including deconfliction of activities, utilization of space resources, and exchange of scientific data. They also support coordination for lunar exploration and the development of a lunar base.

The signing followed Serbia's accession the day before. As of July 2026, 70 nations have signed the Accords, with 11 signatories in 2026 alone. Mike Gold, president of Redwire Space and former NASA associate administrator who helped develop the Accords, noted the rapid growth of the agreement and its alignment with the Artemis program.

The Accords aim to promote peaceful and responsible space exploration. The addition of Mauritius reflects expanding international cooperation in space activities.

SCIENCE

Pentagon Awards $7.1 Million to Expand U.S. Production of Satellite Cover Glass

39d ago · Source: SpaceNews

The Pentagon awarded $7.1 million to Martin Materials Solutions to expand domestic production of cover glass for satellite solar cells, announced July 17 under Title III of the Defense Production Act. The funding will support the expansion of a production line at the company’s facility in Twinsburg, Ohio, which manufactures thin, radiation‑resistant glass used to shield photovoltaic cells on spacecraft solar arrays. Cover glass protects cells from radiation, micrometeoroids, and damaging wavelengths while maintaining structural integrity during orbital operation. Martin Materials is one of a limited number of U.S. firms that supply or fabricate cover glass for satellite solar cells. Other domestic companies are involved at various stages of the production chain. The award aims to increase capacity and reduce reliance on a small set of domestic and foreign sources for a material deemed essential to national defense. Sandra Erwin reports that the investment reflects ongoing concerns about supply chain vulnerabilities for critical space components.